Casting By

90 minutes

With a background in film, you know I love movies, especially nonviolent movies with amazing performances by amazing actors and actresses. Ever wonder who finds these amazing people before anyone ever knows their names? It’s the casting directors, and there’s one who stands above all others, Marion Dougherty. This is her story, which gives us a special look into Ms. Dougherty’s life and the stars she discovered. Don’t miss it. It’s free.

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Erroll Garner-Jazz Legend

53 minutes

As a frustrated guitar player with very little to no music ability, I’ve always had the utmost respect for truly talented musicians. But for the rarefied prodigy for whom it just comes naturally, like breathing, I’ve always been in absolute awe. I would have given anything to have that ability with the guitar. This movie is about one such prodigy, Jazz pianist, Erroll Garner. Don’t miss it. It’s free.

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Maidentrip

82 minutes

This documentary is about a 14 year old girl who sails around the world. 14!!! And, she’s all by herself. No support boats. Nothing! By herself. 14! For two years. Think back to what you were doing when you were 14. Could you have spent two years, by yourself, sailing around the world? Not a chance. I was popping pimples and obsessing about girls. Definitely worth checking out.

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The Art of Ballet-The Ballerina

77 minutes

When I first attended a ballet, I had to be dragged kicking and screaming. However, when it started, I was absolutely blown away…the sets, the music, but most of all the female dancers…the ballerinas. But, until I watched this DVD, I had no idea the amount of work and dedication it takes, even for the prima ballerinas, the top of the top. This DVD focuses on Russian ballerinas. By far, the best in the world.

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Crossing Fields

138 minutes

This is a sweet, dramatic comedy about what happens to a Midwestern mother when all her values are challenged by her best friend, 17-year-old daughter and her newest boarder. It takes a bit to get going but is well worth the time. RATING: R: Subject matter is for mature audiences. Though they are tastefully done and integral to the story, there are two bedroom scenes. One has topless nudity for one character. The other is a love scene. You can read The New York Times review here and the New York Post review here

Ordinary Heroes

As a nonprofit, Awakening Voices wants to Entertain, Empower & Inspire. The Ordinary Heroes channel offers solution-driven documentaries of ordinary people, just like us, working to solve today's challenges.

The Empowerment Plan

00:04:12

charity: water

00:20:00

An Invitation

00:04:58

Barrio de Paz

00:09:00

Shaped by Hand

00:03:45

Permaculture

00:03:16

Karma Kitchen

00:02:49

Landfill Harmonics

00:03:12

Path of Freedom

00:09:40

Daily Acts

00:02:25

The People’s Grocery

00:08:56

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The Empowerment Plan

00:04:12

Challenged to create a product to fill an actual need in her community, college student, Veronika Scott created an innovative coat that turned into a business empowering homeless women. Check-out EMPOWERMENT PLAN here.

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charity: water

00:20:00

This is an amazing video about Scott Harrison who went from wild-child, New York city night club promoter to champion of clean water for everyone. Scott got sick of the party life and decided to make a stand for clean water and created a nonprofit called charity: water.

Obviously, we can’t all stop what we’re doing and create a nonprofit. However, we can all make a difference even if it’s in a small way. If you want to learn more about charity: water and possibly get involved, click here.

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An Invitation

00:04:58

An ancient prophecy of the indigenous peoples of Quichua, Ecuador, speaks of a time when the eagle and the condor fly together – a time when western technological advancements, symbolized by the eagle, will support indigenous wisdom, symbolized by the condor. In this film, Don Alverto Taxo, a Quichua elder and Iachak (community leader/healer) tells us the time of this prophecy is upon us, and invites us all to bring what is in our hearts out into life.The Global Oneness Project

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Barrio de Paz

00:09:00

Nelsa Libertad Curbelo personifies what it means to be an Ordinary Hero. In 1999, she founded the organization, Ser Paz (Being Peace) specifically to work with youth gangs in Ecuador’s southern city of Guayaquil. Through her work, many of Guayaquil’s most dangerous gangs have disarmed, agreed to abandon violence and are now working together to rebuild the community.

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Shaped by Hand

00:03:45

Talk about a simple life! This video features a Canadian farmer who is inspired by farming techniques he observed as a boy in post-war Ireland. He believes in working with the land by hand without machinery. He is preserving a simple way of life from a bygone age. Is he on to something. Something to consider.
Learn more The Global Oneness Project

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Permaculture

00:03:16

This video is about a woman who had a dream of sustainability and decided do something about it. She created a nonprofit, educational organization with the vision that all people can live in a mutually enhancing relationship with the earth. Her organization envisions a world in which people, inspired by nature, create and maintain healthy and abundant livelihoods that enhance fertility and biodiversity on the planet. Be sure to checkout her site at Regenerative Design.

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Karma Kitchen

00:02:49

What is the value of something that doesn’t have a price? That is the fundamental question raised every week at Karma Kitchen, a volunteer-run restaurant in Berkeley. Based on an experiment in generosity, guests are presented with a $0 bill at the end of each meal. Founder and volunteer Nipun Mehta explains how the opportunity to pay-it-forward for the next person opens our innate compassion and builds true community.

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Landfill Harmonics

00:03:12

This extended trailer features the beautiful story that follows the lives of garbage pickers who, out of necessity, start creating instruments entirely out of garbage for the local school children. To learn more and watch the complete movie, click Landfill Harmonics.

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Path of Freedom

00:09:40

In the harsh environment of a Rhode Island men’s prison, a group of fifty inmates are transforming their lives through the practice of meditation. Path of Freedom follows former inmate Fleet Maull as he visits prison to share his strategies for surviving on the inside. The film offers a rare glimpse into the inner lives of men reaching for forgiveness, inner peace and freedom behind bars. To learn more about Fleet and the work of the Prison Mindfulness Institute, visit: Prison Mindfulness.

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Daily Acts

00:02:25

A simple mission with great impact. Check out this extended trailer about Daily Acts, which grew out of an unwavering belief in our power to usher in a new world by inspiring people to live their potential through simple daily actions that nurture community and regenerate nature. Check out what Daily Acts is up to currently.

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The People’s Grocery

00:08:56

This is an amazing example how, as individuals, we can come together to make a huge impact!

In Oakland, California, where liquor stores have replaced markets, the People’s Grocery helps residents build healthy connections to food, the land and each other.

Be A Voice

As a nonprofit, Awakening Voices wants to Entertain, Empower & Inspire. The interactive Be a Voice channel offers a venue where viewers can upload videos documenting their efforts as video producers for change.

David Love-Being a Voice

1 minute

Conscious Teaching

00:05:16

One Man Making a Difference

00:04:32

Grade Schoolers Making a Difference

00:06:11

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David Love-Being a Voice

1 minute

David Love being a voice for others when he buys a meal for an elderly man and gives him $20.00 for his next couple of meals.

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Conscious Teaching

00:05:16

Perfect example of a video that illustrates that to make a difference one does not have to do anything elaborate. Something as simple as an interview about a current topic needing exposure can be enough. Check out this interview about Humane Education at Responsible Eating and Living.

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One Man Making a Difference

00:04:32

A short video about one man making a difference in the lives of the homeless in Salt Lake City. Nothing fancy. Just deciding what he can do and doing it. Be a Voice! Make a Difference! Learn more about what Mr. Smith is up by clicking One Man Making a Difference

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Grade Schoolers Making a Difference

00:06:11

What started as a $25 fundraiser for filter straws for children in Africa, turned into a fundraiser for $6,500 to provide a clean water well for an entire African village. A very simple video about a powerful experience in these young lives. Even though you can’t see the expressions on the children’s faces, you can feel their excitement and pride. Be a Voice! Make a Difference!

Youth Out of The Box

As a nonprofit, Awakening Voices wants to Entertain, Empower & Inspire. The Youth Out of the Box channel is a venue where young people, from around the globe, can connect, share ideas and upload videos documenting their personal growth and community service projects.

It’s My Body

00:02:43

The Woman Inside of Me

00:03:21

I’m Not Your Girl

00:03:23

A Mother’s Struggle

00:04:32

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It’s My Body

00:02:43

In a media environment that shames girls’ bodies, young women talk back to these messages and share their true selves. This video shows us what it means to be body positive through portraits of six young women who tell us both what they like about their bodies and what their bodies can do. From directors, Anamarie Regino, Michelle Gallarza, and Wendy Gallarza. Be sure to checkout Media Literacy Project. They’re doing wonderful stuff.

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The Woman Inside of Me

00:03:21

This back & white, experimental poetry video takes us inside the complex thoughts and emotions of one young woman as she considers love, sex, gender, sexuality, all against the backdrop of her traditional upbringing. The director wishes to remain anonymous. Be sure to checkout Media Literacy Project. They’re doing wonderful stuff.

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I’m Not Your Girl

00:03:23

From directors Mercedes Turner and Marina Oya of Media Literacy Project’s Girl Tech, this insightful video raises awareness on both street harassment and how one is more likely to encounter street harassment due to a reliance on public transportation. Check out Media Literacy Project’s, Girl Tech. They’re doing wonderful stuff.

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A Mother’s Struggle

00:04:32

This is a poignant video from director, Angel Ballejos, that tells the very intimate story of a mother’s addiction and its affects on her and her children. Produce through Media Literacy Project’s, Girl Tech, Ms. Ballejos’ video was accepted and screened at the 2013 International Experiments in Cinema festival, the 2013 Allied Media Conference, and the 2013 Women & Creativity screening event in Albuquerque. Be sure to checkout Media Literacy Project. They’re doing wonderful stuff.

Help inspire others

Sponsor A Movie

Like what we’re doing? Consider sponsoring a movie. Currently, we are in conversation with the film distributors featured below.

Check back, and when we have movies featured in the thumbnails, consider being a sponsor for one of them and join our Sponsors Walk of Fame.

Awakening Voices is a nonprofit. All sponsorship grants are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

Every sponsor makes a difference regardless of amount!

First Run FeaturesLearn More »

Passion RiverLearn More »

Monterey MediaLearn More »

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First Run Features

SPONSOR A MOVIE

Currently, we are in conversation with First Run Features Film Distribution. As we identify movies, we will post the trailers in the box to the left.

Check back and when we have a trailer featured, consider being a sponsor and join our Sponsors Walk of Fame.

Awakening Voices is a nonprofit. All sponsorship grants are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

By clicking on the Sponsor This Movie button###:

You will be taken directly to PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account to make a sponsorship grant.

PayPal also lets us know which movie you have selected so there is no confusion as to how your funds are to be allocated.

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Passion River

SPONSOR A MOVIE

Currently, we are in conversation with Passion River Film Distribution. As we identify movies, we will post the trailers in the box to the left.

Check back, and when we have a trailer featured, consider being a sponsor and joining our Sponsors Walk of Fame.

Awakening Voices is a nonprofit. All sponsorship grants are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

By clicking on the Sponsor This Movie button:

You will be taken directly to PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account to make a sponsorship grant.

PayPal also lets us know which movie you have selected so there is no confusion as to how your funds are to be allocated.

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Monterey Media

SPONSOR A MOVIE

Currently, we are having discussions with Monterey Media. As we identify movies, we will post the trailers in the space to the left.

When we have trailers featured, check them out and consider being a sponsor and joining our Sponsors Walk of Fame.

Awakening Voices is a nonprofit. All sponsorship grants are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

By clicking on the Sponsor This Movie button:

You will be taken directly to PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account to make a sponsorship grant.

PayPal also lets us know which movie you have selected so there is no confusion as to how your funds are to be allocated.